Key points

  • Myanmar’s Foreign Ministry summoned German diplomat Mathias Licharz over a video calling for the release of detained politicians including Aung San Suu Kyi.
  • Authorities accused the envoy of fueling internal opposition and warned that further actions of this nature would be met with serious consequences.
  • The German diplomat maintained that the United Nations still regards the ousted Win Myint as the legitimate president of the country.

A diplomatic confrontation has erupted in Myanmar after the ministry summoned the head of the German mission over a social media video that demanded the release of political prisoners. According to Al Jazeera, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs characterized the diplomat’s public message as an attempt to incite internal unrest and fuel opposition against the host country and its government.

Key Details

Mathias Licharz, head of mission at the German embassy, was summoned to meet with Deputy Foreign Minister Ko Ko Kyaw on Tuesday following the release of a video on Facebook. The footage, recorded outside the former residence of the ousted figurehead president Win Myint in Yangon, was published on Sunday to mark Win Myint’s 75th birthday. In the video, Licharz called for the "unconditional release" of all those arbitrarily detained, specifically naming Win Myint and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Al Jazeera and AFP reported.

The ministry responded by handing the diplomat an aide-memoire and issuing a stern warning against the recurrence of such behavior. In an official statement, the ministry alleged that Licharz's conduct appeared to fuel opposition to the host country and its government, thereby inciting internal unrest. The authorities further stated that should the Charge d’Affaires choose to recognize U Win Myint as President and wish to discontinue his service in Myanmar, the ministry would have "no objection" to his departure.

During his video message, Licharz highlighted the conditions under which the former president is being held. Despite official claims in April that Win Myint had been pardoned of post-coup convictions, the German diplomat reported that his own attempts to facilitate a meeting with the former leader were unfruitful. He concluded that Win Myint is "not a free man" because he is not allowed to meet with whom he would like to meet and is not allowed to communicate independently, according to Al Jazeera.

Context and Impact

The friction between the German mission and the Myanmar government underscores the deep international divide following the February 2021 military coup. That takeover brought an end to a decade-long democratic experiment in the country, leading to pro-democracy rebels rising up and long-simmering ethnic minority rebellions challenging central rule boiling over. While the military leadership organized elections and installed a nominally civilian government this year, analysts regard it as a fig leaf for ongoing military rule, as reported by Al Jazeera.

Aung San Suu Kyi remains detained, though she was moved to house arrest in the capital Naypyidaw this year, as reported. The German diplomat’s statement regarding the United Nations viewing the ousted figurehead president as the legitimate president reflects ongoing international tensions. The current military-backed authorities face continuous scrutiny from various international observers regarding the status of high-profile detainees.

Summary and What Next

The summoning of the German envoy marks a heightening of tensions between Myanmar’s leadership and European diplomatic circles. While the Foreign Ministry has warned of appropriate actions should similar conduct recur, it remains to be seen how the German government or the United Nations will respond. For now, the status of political prisoners like Win Myint and Aung San Suu Kyi remains a point of international discussion.